October 31, 2003 - Charlie Weaver, Governor Pawlenty's chief of staff, is stepping down to become the head of the Minnesota Business Partnership, an association of chief executives from Minnesota's 100 largest companies. Weaver says the opportunity was one he couldn't pass up.
September 30, 2003 - The Minnesota Twins used strong pitching and good fielding to take the first game of their playoff series with the New York Yankees. The Twins' 3-1 victory in New York was their first victory over the Yankees in more than two years, and it got them off to a good start in their best-of-five first round series. MPR's William Wilcoxen joins All Things Considered host David Molpus to share details.
September 29, 2003 - All Things Considered’s David Molpus talks with MPR’s Laura McCallum, who is traveling with Governor Tim Pawlenty delegation on a trade mission in Canada. Pawlenty is trying to push Minnesota to pursue research partnerships and business opportunities with Quebec. The governor met with Montreal Premier Jean Charest.
July 17, 2003 - MPR's Marianne Combs profiles painter and sculptor John Snyder, and his Circus of the Night exhibit at Weinstein Gallery in Minneapolis. The presentation features gigantic paintings reminiscent of Italian works of the 14th century. Snyder details his inspiration behind the paintings.
June 19, 2003 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Jim Quackenbush, a pork producer, about fast-food giant McDonald's asking its meat suppliers to phase out the use of antibiotics which promote animal growth. The company is responding to concerns that antibiotics given to animals in feed reduces the effectiveness of antibiotic medicines in humans. The announcement is likely to have a profound effect on beef and pork producers in Minnesota.
May 23, 2003 - MPR’s Michael Khoo talks with All Things Considered host Lorna Benson about a Minnesota legislative plan that extends nuclear waste storage at Xcel Energy's Prairie Island plant. The proposal is meant to keep the facility operating through 2014, but has run into objections from environmental advocates. Critics say it lacks a strong commitment to renewable energy alternatives and provides no explicit role for lawmakers in future nuclear waste storage debates.
May 8, 2003 - All Thing’s Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews Democratic Senator David Tomassoni about the K-12 education funding bills that have passed in the state House and Senate. Both would allow school districts to sell naming rights to corporate sponsors to raise extra revenue.
May 8, 2003 - MPR’s Lorna Benson sits down with American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega to discuss her music career. Vega also talks about hosting Minnesota Public Radio's American Mavericks Series. The 13-part program features the life stories and music of the tradition-breaking composers that helped shape American classical music.
May 8, 2003 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson chats with MPR’s William Wilcoxen about the Minnesota Wild as they prepare for game seven of the second round playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks. If they win game seven in Vancouver, the Wild would become the first team ever to come back from a three games to one deficit in two straight playoff series.
May 1, 2003 - A team of doctors at Rochester's Mayo Clinic has developed an innovative way to treat, and possibly even cure, sinusitis. MPR’s Steven John interviews Dr. David Sherris about the condition and new treatment.